Portable stand with adjustable lamp suspending arm



G. F. EYTH May 7, 1968 PORTABLE STAND WITH ADJUSTABLE LAMP SUSPENDINGARM Filed June 28, 1966 R. w mm M yW o A Em. R 3 e 9 r w 6 ma UnitedStates Patent Ofi ice 3,382,356 PORTABLE STAND WITH ADJUSTABLE LAMPSUSPENDING ARM George F. Eyth, RD. 2, Chicora, Pa. 16025 Filed June 28,1966, Ser. No. 561,214 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-81) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe lamp-equipped stand disclosed is versatile in capability. It lendsitself to practical usage wherever a variable but properly directed beamof light is needed to assist a user in effectually taking care of workneeds that call for or necessitate adequate illumination. It provides acontrollably aimed beam of light at a night barbecue, while washing onescar, attending to needs of livestock, painting indoors or outdoors, andfor purposes too numerous to mention. It comprises a tripodal base,vertically adjustable standard, dual purpose handgrip, and amultipurpose lamp supporting arm adjustable atop the standard.

serve the manufacturing economies of manufacturers, as-

sures profitable handling by wholesalers and retailers, and satisfiesthe diversified needs in many and various categories of use. It is suchin construction and adaptability that it can be effectively used in everchanging situations, for example, when a controllably aimed source andbeam of light is needed at a night barbecue, while Washing or polishingones car, while working around farm machinery or equipment, attending tothe numerous needs of livestock, while painting indoors or outdoors,resorting to otherwise hampered building requirements, or anywhere awell focused beam of light is needed to assist a person or personstaking care of work requirements that call for extra illumination.

One aspect of the concept has to do with the upright part of the stand;namely, a tripodal base supporting a vertically extensible andretractible standard. The base comprises outwardly downwardly slopingcircumferentially spaced legs with vertical terminal feet tipped orcapped with cushion anti-skid pads. The lower component comprises atubular member which provides a socket member and is fixed to upperconverging ends of the legs. The companion vertical member comprises arod or shaft slidable and turnable in the socket, the same being held ina given or set position by a lever operated clamping cam or equivalentfastening means carried by the tubular member.

Another improvement is directed to a simple stand lifter and carrier,more particularly, a handgrip fixed to the tubular member in a balancedposition and having upper and lower offset hooks on which the electriccord can be reeled or coiled and thus stored in an out-of-thewayposition.

The arm is provided at an outer end with a reflectorequipped bulb orlamp. Many types of bulbs can be accommod-atingly used such as, forinstance, heat lamps, floodlight lamps, standard bulbs of differingwattages and styles and so on. Then, too, hoods and reflectors varying3,382,356 Patented May 7, 1968 in design and construction can be and areused in coordinating relation with the arm-end and source ofillumination.

More specifically, this invention is characterized by selfstanding basemeans, a vertically adjustable standard attached to and risingperpendicularly from said base means, an elongated arm designed andadapted to suspend and focus a lamp bulb or the like and disposed in aplane at an angle to the verticality of said standard, said arm beingcapable of assuming a horizontal position at right angles to thevertical axis of said standard and, alternatively, being tiltable in avertical plane to assume a plurality of predetermined angular positionssuch as, for example, 65-45l5 slanting downward or l40-165 angled andslanting upwardly, and means adjustably mounting a median portion ofsaid arm atop said standard, said mounting means embodying a firstcomponent part fixed atop said standard and provided with aspring-loaded latch pin and also a journaling shaft, and a secondcomponent part carried by the median portion of said arm and embodyingbearing means journaled for free rotation on said shaft, said bearingmeans provided with a fixed member having selectively usable keeperholes for reception and temporary retention of said latch, whereby tofacilitate adjusting and retaining said arm in its diversifiedadjustable and usable positions relative to said standard.

Construed somewhat more explicity, the invention has to do with abase-equipped self-standing standard, a U- shaped bracket embodying ahorizontal bight portion fixed atop said standard and provided with apair of opposed upstanding arms having aligned holes, an axle bridgingthe space between said arms with ends thereof fitting removably in saidholes, said axle constituting and providing a journaling shaft, aU-shaped clip fixed on and projecting laterally from one of said armsand having a bight portion with a hole lined up with a companion hole insaid one arm, an L-shaped latch having a fingergrip at an outer end anda detent at the inner end, said detent being spring-loaded, slidinglymounted in the holes provided therefor and having a tip end projectinginto the space between said arms, an elongated tubular arm having a lampbulb and cooperable reflector operatively mounted for use on an outerend of said arm, an arm mounting and adjusting lug fixed on andprojecting laterally from a median portion of said arm, said lug havinga bearing hole encircling and oscillatable on said journaling shaft, aspacing sleeve fixed to said lug in line with said bearing hole, saidsleeve located between said bracket arms and encircling and beingrockable on said shaft, and a semicircular arm positioning and returningplate situated in the space between said bracket arms and fixed to andmovable with said sleeve, the semicircular marginal edge portion of saidplate being swingable in an arcuate path relative to said bight portionand having a row of longitudinally spaced keeper holes concentric withthe axis of said sleeve and selectively registrable with and forreception and retention of said detent.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the improved portable stand showingthe same set up for use and showing the construction of the arm and thelamp and reflector mounted on the distal or outer end thereof foradjustable light beam focusing needs;-

FIGURE 2 is a view on an enlarged scale and which is fragmentarily shownand which functions to detail the eccentric or cam fastener, the novelcoupling or joint and how the arm (fragmentarily shown) is cooperabletherewith; and

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged view with parts in section and elevationtaken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

With reference now to FIG. 1 and broadly speaking it will be seen thatthe base means, which is tripodal in form, is denoted at 6, thecomplemental vertically adjustable standard at 8, the cross arm at andthe hinging joint between the arm and standard at 12.

The standard 8 comprises a vertically elongated straight tubular member14 which provides a socket for reception, retention and adjustment ofthe axially turnable and vertically adjustable rod member 16 whose lowerportion 18 is shown projecting downwardly through and beyond the bottomof the tubular member 14. The lower portion 20 of the tubular member isfixedly joined to and rises perpendicularly from the tripodal base means6. The latter means comprises several duplicate rigid legs 22 whichincline outwardly and downwardly, said legs being circumferentiallyspaced and equal distances apart to provide the desired self-standingresult. The outer or lower end portions of the legs are vertically bentas at 24 to define feet and the terminal ends of the feet are providedwith rubber or equivalent tips or caps 26 which provide the desiredcushioning and antislipping result when the base means is positioned ona foundation or other support surface. The upper converging ends 28 ofthe legs surround and are welded at 30 to the tubular member.

It follows that the stand comprises a base supportedstandard with therod portion 16 vertically adjustable and also axially turnable. A slot32 is provided in one side adjacent the top of the tubular member and,in addition, outstanding spaced parallel ears are provided at 34 and arelined up with the slot and serve to accommodate the eccentric orfriction clamping cam 36 which is provided with an offset handle orlever 38 and which is pivotally mounted at 40 between the ears. Themanner in which this clamping or locking device is employed isself-evident. The stand also embodies a fixedly attached carrier unit 42made from a length of suitable wire stock and which is bent upon itselfbetween its ends to provide a substantially U-shaped handle 44. Thehandle is secured by soldering or welding as at 46 to the tubularmember. The end portions are fashioned into laterally offset upper andlower hooks 48 which in practice are used for winding or reeling thecurrent supply cord 50 which is located at and connected with the handleor handgrip 52 on the lefthand end of the aforementioned utilitysuspending arm 10. Taking up now the cross arm 10 it will be seen thatit is made of hollow axially aligned component parts 54 and 56 whichpermit passage of the cord 50 therethrough (not detailed). The distal orouter end portion of the section 54 of the arm is screw-threaded orotherwise constructed as at 58 to accommodate an attaching collar 60 onthe truncated end portion of a truncated conical or an equivalent canopyor reflector 62. A suitable socket 64 is provided on the end of the armto accommodate the lamp bulb 66. Various types of lamps and shields orreflectors can be used. Adjacent the ends of the sections or components54 and 56 are united by a simple sleeve-type coupling 68 which providesa junction box. In practice this box is provided with an off and onswitch 70 and on one side with a receptacle 72. This part is notdetailed but it is understood that it is interiorly constructed so thatthe receptacle 72 can be used to accommodate a plug on an extension cord(not shown) to supply current to an electric drill or equivalent tool orappliance.

The joint or coupling 12 between the median portion of the overall arm10 and upper end of the rod 16 is unique. This is to say, and as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, the joint comprises an upstanding U-shaped bracket 74having a bight portion 76 fixed atop the rod 16. The upstanding arms forthe bracket are denoted at 78 and 80 in FIG. 3. These arms are providedwith oppositely disposed and aligned holes to accommodate a journalingshaft 82 one end of which is provided with a head 84 abutting the arm 78and the other end of which is held removably in place by a cotter pin86. The arm 78 is provided on one side with an outstanding fixedlymounted relatively small U-shaped adapter clip 88 which is lined up witha hole provided therefor in the arm 78 as best shown in FIG. 3. Thebight portion of this clip is also apertured to accommodate thehorizontal detent 90 of an L-shaped latch 92, the depending portion 94providing a suitable fingergrip.

In addition to the component parts carried by the upper end of the rod16 the joint embodies a depending lug 96 carried by the median portionof the arm as shown in FIG. 3, said lug having a bearing hole 98 thereinwhich embraces and is oscillatable on the journaling shaft 82. A spacingsleeve is provided at 100 and is fixed at one end to the lug in linewith the bearing hole 98 and the sleeve in turn encircles and isadjustable on the journaling shaft. The sleeve carries a dependingsubstantially semicircular retainer plate 102 the upper straight edge ofwhich is secured to the periphery of the sleeve. This plate 102 dependsin the space between the arms 78 and 80. The lower curvate or arcuateedge 104 swings in an arcuate path relative to the bight portion 76 andit is provided with circumferentially spaced keeper holes 106 (FIG. 2)which are arranged in an arcuate row and are therefore concentric to theturning axis about the journaling shaft 82. The inner end 108 of theaforementioned detent projects into the space between the arms 78 and 80and can be selectively registered with any one of the keeper holes 106.The latch is held yieldingly in place by the encircling and actuatingcoil spring 110 and is therefore referred to as a spring loaded latch.There is a stop collar provided at 112 for the obvious purpose shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

It is permissible to remove the cotter pin 86, withdraw the headedjournaling pin 82 and thus detach the entire lamp-equipped arm 10. It isalso evident that when the device is set up for use as shown the arm 10can be adjusted 65, 40, and 15 downward or 115, or upward and can alsobe maintained in the horizontal position shown by properly utilizing thelatch and retaining means.

The lamp-equipped arm, and novel arm hingeing joint comprehends aconstruction that should and doubtless will meet with widespreadadoption and practical use. The outer or distal end of the arm can benicely adjusted up or down with the aid of the handle-grip on the inneror proximal end. The hinge-equipped joint or coupling between the armand standard is uniquely constructed and well serves its intendedpurpose. The simple spring-loaded L-type latch plus the U-bracket andhinged lug ensures graduated or step-by-step adjustment and once theuser acquires the knack of use, the desired arm and lamp adjustment canbe quickly made, even in the dark. Experience will show that theinvention makes for highly efficient illumination for many .and varioushousehold repairs, for unhampered ironing and sewing, is usable inservice stations, for display areas in stores and so on. Further, thejunction box built into the hollow wire sheathing arm makes available anoutlet for an extension cord which can be relied upon for remote powertakeoff needs, where, of course, a source of electricity is available.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A self-contained lamp stand comprising a portable self-standingbase-supported vertically adjustable standard, a U-shaped bracketembodying a horizontal bight portion fixed atop said standard andprovided with a pair of opposed upstanding arms having .aligned holes, areadily applicable and removable axle bridging the space between saidarms and having ends thereof fitting removably in said holes, said axleconstituting a journa'ling shaft, a U- shaped clip fixed on andprojecting laterally and accessibly from one of said arms and having abight portion with a first hole lined up with a companion second hole insaid one arm, an L-shaped latch having a fingergrip at an outer end anda detent at the inner end, said detent being springloaded, slidinglymounted in said first and second holes and having .a tip end projectinginto the space between said arms, an elongated tubular arm having a lampbulb and coopera'ble retflector operatively mounted on an outer end ofsaid arm, an arm mounting and adjusting lug fixed on and projectinglaterally from a median portion of said arm into the space between saidupstanding arms, said lug having a bearing hole encirling andoscillatable on said journ'aling shaft, a spacing sleeve fixed to andprojecting laterally from said lug in line with said bearing hole, saidsleeve locate-d and confined between said bracket arms and encirclingand being rockable on said shaft, and a semicircular arm positioning andretaining plate situated in the space between said bracket arms andfixed to and movable with said sleeve, the semicircular marginal edgeportion of said plate being swingable in an arcuate path relative tosaid bight portion and having a row of longitudinally spaced keeperholes concentric with the axis of said sleeve and selectivelyregistrable with and for reception and retention of said detent.

2. A portable multipurpose self-contained stand comprising, incombination, self-standing base means, a vertically extensible andretractable standard attached to and rising perpendicularly from saidbase means, an elongate-d arm designed and adapted to suspend and aim alamp bulb, said arm being capable of assuming a horizontal position atright angles to the vertical axis of said standard and, alternatively,being tiltable in a vertical plane to assume a plurality ofpredetermined angular positions, means adjustably mounting a medianportion of said arm atop said standard, said mounting means emboding afirst component part fixed atop said standard and provided with a springloaded latch pin and also a journaling shaft, a second component partcarried by the median portion of said arm and embodying bearing meansjournaled for free rotation on said shaft, said bearing means providedwith a fixed member having selectively usable keeper holes for receptionand temporary retention of said latch, said base means com-prising atripod embodying legs having lower outward ends deipending verticallyand terminating in cushioned bumper-type surface contacting andanti-skid feet, said standard comprising a vertically elongated tubularmember providing a socket, said legs having upper ends fixed to a lowerend portion of said tubular member, a complemental vertically elongatedrod member telscoping slidingly into said socket, manually regulatableretaining means mounted on said tubular member and clampingly butreleasab-ly engageable with said rod member, and, in combination, a rodbent upon itself to define and provide a manually grip-pable standcarrier, the intermediate portion of said rod being bent and fashionedinto and providing a handgri p, said handgrip being fixed on saidtubular member, and having free end portions bent and fashioned into andproviding spaced hooks on which a current supply cord can be compactlyand conveniently reeled and temporarily stored for ready use.

3. A self-contained lamp stand comprising a portable self-standingbase-supported vertically adjustable standard,

a U-sha-ped bracket embodying a horizontal bight portion fixed atop saidstandard and provided with a pair of 0pposed upstanding arms havingaligned holes, an axle bridging the space between said arms with endsthereof fitting removab'ly in said holes, said axle constituting ajournaling shaft, a U-shaped clip fixed on and projecting laterally fromone of said arms and having a bight portion with a first hole lined upwith a companion second hole in said one arm, an L-shaped latch having afinger grip at an outer end and a detent at the inner end, said detentbeing spring-loaded, slidingly mounted in said first and'second holesand having a tip end projecting into the space between said arms, anelongated tubular arm having a lamp bulb and cooperable reflectoroperatively mounted on an outer end of said arm, an arm mounting andadjusting lug fixed on and projecting laterally from a median portion ofsaid arm, said lug having a bearing hole encircling and oscillatable onsaid journaling shaft, a spacing sleeve fixed to said lug in line withsaid bearing hole, said sleeve located between said bracket arms andencircling and being rockable on said shaft, and a semicircular armpositioning and retaining plate situated in the space between saidbracket arms and fixed to and movable with said sleeve, the semi-circular marginal edge portion of said plate being swingable in an arcuatepath relative to said bight portion and having a row longitudinallyspaced keeper holes concentric with the axis of said sleeve andselectively registrable with and for reception and retention of saiddetent, and, in combination, a rod bent upon itself to define andprovide a manually grippable stand carrier, the intermediate portion ofsaid rod being bent and fashioned into and providing a handgrip, saidhandgrip being fixed on said standard, and having free end portions bentand fashioned into and providing spaced books on which a current supplycord can be compactly and conveniently reeled and temporarily stored forready use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 124,971 2/1941 Hood.

2,267,653 12/ 1941 Hawkins 240-81 2,697,776 12/1954 W'ale 240-813,160,755 1 2/ 1964 Wolfe 24081 NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner. J. W.PRICE, Assistant Examiner.

